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Boat Driver Licensing

June 7, 2008 · Filed Under Boat Licence · Comment 

The speed at which a boat is driven determines whether a person needs to be licensed.

Any person who drives a recreational powered vessel on NSW waters at a speed of 10 knots or more must have a boat driver’s licence.

Ten knots is the speed at which most accelerating boats will start to plane – that is rise up and skim on top of the water instead of ploughing through it.

The exception is anyone who drives a personal watercraft (PWC) at ANY speed must have a PWC Licence.

Types of Licence

General Licence

A licence for people aged 16 years and over to drive any vessel, except a PWC at 10 knots or more.

General Young Adult Licence

A restricted licence for those aged from 12 to under 16 years. A Young Adult Licensee must:
(i) be accompanied by the holder of a General Licence when travelling at 10 knots or more
(ii) never exceed 20 knots
(iii) never travel at 10 knots or more after sunset and before sunrise
(iv) never travel at 10 knots or more when towing an aquaplaner
(v) never tow a water skier or wake boarder
(vi) not drive in any race, display, regatta or exhibition without prior consent from the NSW Maritime and
(vii) never operate a PWC unless the holder of a Young Adult PWC Licence.

Personal Watercraft (PWC) Licence

A special licence is required to ride a PWC regardles of what speed it is driven. To obtain a PWC licence, the test for a General Licence must be passed first. Additional test questions must then be passed. Persons who hold a General Licence can upgrade to a PWC Licence at any time by correctly answering additional questions.

Young Adult PWC Licence

A restricted licence for those aged from 12 to under 16 years who wish to drive a PWC. The same conditions which apply to the General Young Adult Licence apply to this licence. A Young Adult PWC Licence holder must be accompanied by a PWC Licence holder when operating at a speed of 10 knots or more.

Licence Period

A General Licence or PWC Licence is available for either 12 months or three years. You will save money by selecting a three year licence.

A one-year General Licence is issued as a paper licence and a three year licence as both a paper and plastic card. All PWC licences are issued as plastic photo identity cards.

Rescue Organisations

Members of approved rescue organisations, trained and qualified to drive vessels belonging to that organisation, may be exempted from holding a boating licence while on official duties. Examples of acceptable qualifications are the NSW SES Flood Rescue Boat Operators Qualification, and the Surf Life Saving NSW Inflatable Rescue Boat Drivers Certificates. These qualificationsare not valid for recreational use, but can be converted to aGeneral Licence upon application to NSW Maritime. Contact your organisation for details and payment of relevant fees.

Commercial Qualifications

An appropriate certificate of competency is required to take charge of vessels used for commercial purposes. To obtain these qualifications you will need to have records of your boating experience, complete approved training courses and meet minimum medical and eyesight standards. Further details can be obtained by contacting NSW Maritime Infoline on 13 12 36 or by visiting www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

How to Obtain a Licence

Anyone wishing to obtain a boat licence must, from 1 October 2006, first undertake compulsory boating education either by studying an online Boating Safety Course, viewing a DVD/video Boating Safety Course or attending a Boating Safety Course conducted by NSW Maritime or an accredited agency. A nominal fee will apply.

A Boating Safety Course completion certificate is then to be presented to the boat licence test examiner within 12 months of the certificate date prior to attempting the licence test. A licence test fee is payable for each attempt at the licence test.Approved licence testers are: NSW Maritime, Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP), the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA), Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), some regional Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) offices and Goverment Access Centres (GACs).

A list of participating offices/centres is available on NSW Maritime’s website or by contacting Info Line on 13 12 56. The compulsory seminar and licence test does not apply if a person obtains a certificate of successful completion of an accredited boating course.

NSW Maritime accepts some courses from certain organisations as satisfying the licence test requirements. These organisations conduct courses which not only teach you the requirements for a general licence but often include practical training in boat driving. They include the NSW Maritime licence test in their assessment process and issue a course completion certificate. To apply for a NSW general licence you must present the course completion certificate within six months at a NSW Maritime office and complete the application process.

Approved courses are available from:

  • National Powerboat Training Scheme
  • National Yacht Cruising Scheme
  • National Motor Cruising Scheme
  • Contact Yachting Australia or affiliated clubs

Goverment Access Centres and some regional Roads and Traffic Authority offices also conduct NSW Maritime boat licence tests. It will however be necessary for you to finalise your application at a NSW Maritime office.

When Applying for a Licence:

  • an applicant must provide Proof of Identity documentation before sitting the tests. See the section on Proof of Identity in this book
  • Young Adult Licence applicants must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when sitting the test. proof of identity of the parent or guardian is required
  • PWC Licence applicants must provide two colour passport acceptable photographs (light background). PWC Licences are plastic photo cards and two new photos will be required each time the licence is renewed
  • an applicant will be required to complete an application form, provide information about any medical conditions which may affect their ability to operate a boat, meet eyesight standards and pay the appropriate fees.

Remember

You must carry your licence and produce it for inspection when requested by a NSW Maritime officer, a member of the Police or other authorised officers.

Owners of vessels must be able to identify the person driving their vessel at all times, even if the owner is not onboard at the time.

Licence holders and owners of vessels should promptly notify NSW Maritime of any changes to personal details or address. Licences sent to the wrong address can be cancelled and a re-instatement fee charged.If your licence has not been renewed within two years of its expiry date you will need to pass the licence test again.

Recognition of Licences

Temporary recognition of licences is available to visitors from interstate or overseas.

A NSW licence is not required when:

(i) your usual place of residence is outside NSW, and
(ii) you have not been in NSW continuously during the three months preceding the date on which you are driving the vessel, and
(iii) you hold and carry a valid current licence or permit to drive a vessel of the type you are driving issued under the legislation of another State, Territory or country.

If any of the above conditions cannot be met and you wish to drive a power-driven vessel at 10 knots or more or a PWC regardless of its speed on navigable waters in NSW, you must hold a current NSW General Licence or PWC Licence.


Please note you are required to comply with NSW boating laws while boating in this State. That includes carrying your licence when boating.

Proof of Identity

To ensure the accuracy of records held by NSW Maritime, proof of identity (POI) is necessary when conducting a business transaction.

There are three types of POI documents: Full, Primary and Secondary. Either one full POI document or at least one primary and one secondary POI document is required.

Full POI Documents

  • current photo drivers licence issued within Australia
  • current Australian passport
  • current document of identity issued by the passport office
  • current Australian Defence Force photograph identity card
  • current photo PWC photo licence
  • current Birth Card issued by the registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
  • current Federal or NSW Police Officer photograph identity card
  • current NSW photograph (firearms or security) licence issued by or through the RTA.

Primary POI Documents (Examples)

  • NSW Firearm or Security licence that has expired within the last two years
  • full birth certificate or certified extract
  • Australian naturalisation or citizenship document
  • current overseas passport
  • Australian passport or document of identity expired within the last two years.

Secondary POI Documents (Examples)

  • telephone, gas or electricity bill not more than 12 months old
  • current medicare card, pension card or Veteran’s Affairs card
  • current credit card, account card, bank statement or passbook
  • current NSW Maritime general or young adult boating licence.

For other acceptable POI documents and for further information contact the Infoline on 13 12 56.

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